Digital Arts and New Media: MFA: Collaboration, Innovation, Social Impact

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Program Resources

Dates and Deadlines

Campus Administrative Calendar (and Google Calendar)
DANM Thesis process Key Dates

Contact Info

DANM Office Contact Info

Campus Directory - search for staff, student, and faculty contact info

 

Facility, Equipment, Access, Safety

Description of DANM facilities

Other campus facilites

DANM Equipment checkout and associated late fees

Dark Lab event calendar
- Dark Lab Policies and Procedures

Lab and eqipment training forms:

 

Teaching at UCSC

You may receive an appointment as a Teaching Assistant (TA) as part of your admissions financial support offer, or through direct application. TA appointment opportunities are listed on the campus google group. Application process will vary by department. Applications are generally listed in Spring quarter for the following year, and throughout the year as needed. Duties will vary by class and instructor but generally require attendance of lectures and leading secondary lab or discussion sections.

Standard TA appointments are at "50 percent time" (a maximum assigned workload of 220 hours for the quarter) for a total per quarter salary of $6,884.33 (for 2018-19). A 50 percent TA appointment also includes tuitituion remission and partial fee remission for that quarter.

Info, Resources, and TA Handbook​

Monthly payroll dates - see payroll calendar
 

Accounting Systems at UCSC (How do I get paid?)

1. Tuition/Fee Remission payments, Fellowships, Loans: Financial Aid/Student Business Services
- Authorize Direct Depost refunds via my.ucsc.edu Student Portal
- Check payments / find forms via my my.ucsc.edu -> Financial Aid and Account Activity

2. Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher salary, any payment for work product (other campus jobs, tutoring, etc): Payroll Department, payhelp@ucsc.edu
- Authorize Direct Deposit and view pay statements via At Your Service Employee Guide and Forms

3. Reimbursements (travel, research, etc): Financial Administrative Services and Transactions / Accounts Payable (FAST/AP) aphelp@ucsc.edu
- Complete Payee Setup Form (204), page 2 authorizes direct deposit payments: https://financial.ucsc.edu/Pages/Forms_Directory.aspx

Fees

UCSC has two types of fees: "Student services fees" and "Campus fees." This page shows an itemized list of the two kinds of fees.

Student services fees are paid via the tuition and fee remission package that comes with a Teaching Assistant appointment.

Campus fees are paid by students (unless specifically included in your funding offer). Campus fees are created via student referenda during annual elections. You can complete a Payroll Deduction form to have your campus fee deducted from your paycheck each quarter (a new form is required each quarter).

Funding Opportunities - Project, Research, Travel, Emergency

- Graduate Dean's Research and Travel grants: https://graddiv.ucsc.edu/current-students/fellowships-financial-aid/travel-grants.html 

- Arts Dean's Fund for Excellence: https://arts.ucsc.edu/student-success/arts-deans-fund-excellence for "dissemination of research" for which having a show would certainly qualify.

- The Florence French Financial Aid Fund for Art is a bequest "to provide scholarships in art for worthy students in need of financial aid." DANM awards this scholarship annually to students in support of a specific project, proposal ususally due mid March.

- Requests for purchase of equipment and software can be submitted directly to the Arts Division Technical Coordinator: coejenni@ucsc.edu

- Slug Support - Emergency food or housing funds: https://deanofstudents.ucsc.edu/slug-support/program/index.html

- Other funding requests can be submitted directly to the program via the Ad Hoc Funding Request Form

Working with Faculty Mentors

In collaboration with the Graduate Division, the Center for Innovations in Teaching and Learning (CITL) has developed a set of resources for graduate students on the faculty-graduate student mentorship relationship. These resources include a toolkit for graduate students, a curated archive of resources on the mentorship relationship; a "mentorship needs checklist," which can support graduate students in setting clear expectations; and "hot tips" for meeting with faculty mentors, which provides guidance in establishing effective mentorship relationships. See the Guide for Mentees on this page.

 

Program Description, Requirements, and Curriculum

Courses descriptions and Program Planner

Program Statement (UCSC General Catalog)

- Waiving courses

 

Independent Studies & Undergraduate Research Groups

To enroll in an independent study, complete the DANM Independent Study Docusign form on the DANM Forms page.

DANM students can recruit and lead undergraduate students in a DANM Student Directed Research Group. Both DANM and undergraduate students will receive credit via an independent study, overseen by a faculty sponsor. You are responsible for recruiting the undergraduates, defining the tasks and deliverables for the them, creating a regular meeting schedule, and evaluating their work for a grade, which is then entered by the faculty as instructor of record. 

Follow the instructions above for an independent study, and have your undergraduate students do the same, selecting undergraduate level on the form, and the faculty member as their instructor.  

 

Thesis Process

- Description of the process and deliverables

- Key Dates & Deadlines

 

Full Time vs. Part Time Status

Per the UCSC Graduate Student Handbook Section VI:

Senate Regulations state that the regular course load for a full-time graduate student is 15 units of graduate and/or upper-division undergraduate course work, including any 297 or 299 units for which the student may enroll. The minimum load for a full-time student is 10 units of graduate and/or upper-division undergraduate course work. Part-time students can enroll for 5-8 units of graduate and/or upper-division undergraduate course work... All students (certificate, masters, and doctoral) not advanced to candidacy for the PhD must enroll in a minimum of at least two upper division or graduate level courses (five credits each) each quarter."

" A part-time graduate student is one who has approval to enroll in a minimum of two units and a maximum of eight units of coursework.... A part-time student will pay the full Registration Fee, one-half the Educational Fee paid by full-time students. Nonresident students approved for part-time status will pay one-half the nonresident tuition charge. Campus fees will be assessed when applicable.
Part-time students will be eligible for fellowship support at their department's discretion; but University employment in student titles, such as Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Researcher, cannot exceed .25 FTE."

"Any student who desires to enroll on a part-time basis will be required to submit an Application for Part Time Status (available at the Graduate Division web page) and provide a detailed written justification."

 

California Residency 

Students who are not California residents will be charged an additional Non-Resident Tuition each quarter. Most domestic non-resident students apply for California residency for tuition purposes in the Spring of their first year.
- How to Establish Califonia Residence for Tuition Purposes
- "10 Things Graduate Students Need to Know"

Copying / Printing

 

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Description of DANM facilities

DANM Graduate Research Lab, DARC 104 (a.k.a. Grad Lab)

This is the primary shared studio facility. Each student has a personal desk, chair and locker.

The space contains several shared areas: an iMac workstation, Windows workstation, an office work station (printer & scanner), two workbenches, and a social area for discussion and/or relaxation. Any personal items left unattended in shared areas are subject to removal without notice. Please keep all shared spaces clean. Cleaning supplies are available in the DARC 111 (Snack Lab). Please familiarize yourselves with our collection of brooms, dustpans, mops, and sponges. If supplies run low (printer ink, staples, cleaning fluid), contact the Technical Coordinator or request maintenance through the DANM Checkout System.

Undergraduate Research Assistants are not permitted to work in this lab without being accompanied by a current DANM student and must vacate the space from 10PM-7AM every day.

End of Spring Quarter Requirements for 1st year students: Store all possessions in your personal locker or on your table to allow for cleaning during the summer. All furniture, materials, tools and personal items that are not in a personal locker or do not fit on the table must be removed by the student prior to the last day of the spring quarter.

End of Spring Quarter Requirements for 2nd year students: Remove all property from the Grad Lab prior to the last day of the spring quarter. Sweep under your table, wipe your tabletop, clean out your locker, and wipe down the inside of your locker.

Students who do not cooperate with the above guidelines may be charged for cleaning expenses or for the removal of their personal items. Students risk having their graduation delayed or being suspended from the Grad Lab during the year.

DANM Technical Shop, DARC 104A (a.k.a. Laser Cutter Lab / Electronics Lab)

This is a physical construction lab which houses the Epilog Laser Cutter, several soldering stations and shared construction materials and tools. Safety training and technical training are required before using the equipment in this lab. The laser cutter must never be left unattended when in use. The proper ventilation systems must be used for both laser cutting and soldering. After 6pm, the Technical Shop door must be propped open for ventilation when using the laser cutter. After 10pm, the Technical Shop is reserved for DANM MFA students only. When you are done working in this space, you must clean up all of your tools and materials entirely. Do not leave incomplete work in the space. Students are not permitted to store projects or materials in this space. Hazardous substances, power tools, spray paint, adhesives, activities that generate sawdust and messy projects are not permitted in this lab.

DANM Dark Lab, DARC 108

This is the DANM performance and installation space with media control (DARC 208B) and a catwalk. It seats up to 130 people for presentations or performances. This space connects to the Graduate Research Lab and can be used a work space for DANM projects. The space is booked through the DANM Office. If the space is not in use, students may drop-in. Training is required for use of the video projector, theatrical lighting, audio, Genie lifts, and ladders.

Arts Division Snack and Study Lab, DARC 111 (a.k.a. Dark Lab Green Room)

This space includes a kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, tables, and desks for studying. The appliances are there for your convenience. You are welcome to bring in whatever supplies you would like for this room, but keep in mind that it is shared by all Arts Division staff, graduate students and faculty. Please put your name and date on any food you put in the fridge. You are responsible for keeping this space clean and inviting to others. Please let the the DANM Office know if problems arise with these appliances or if any other aspect of the space needs attending. During events in the Dark Lab requiring a Green Room, anyone using this space may be asked to leave. The cabinet in the bathroom is reserved for DANM cleaning supplies.
 

DANM Dark Lab Booth, DARC 208B

The 2nd floor of the Dark Lab contains the media control booth, the catwalk and the lighting grid. The booth is also set up as a production studio for editing video and audio and mixed reality production. Special training is required for use of this space. Safety training is required for hanging lights and technical training is required for using the light board, sound board, and video mixing hardware. Undergraduate Research Assistants are not permitted to work in this lab without being accompanied by a current DANM student. The Edit Lab cannot be used while events are happening in the Dark Lab (DARC 108).

 

DANM Rapid Prototyping Lab, DARC 225

This lab houses 3D printers, a vacuum form machine, a drill press/manual mill, and a Tormach CNC milling machine. Safety training and technical training are required for working in this lab and tool-specific training is required for use of certain tools. Working alone is not permitted when using any of the milling machines. Always open the rolling door when using hazardous materials. Students cannot store materials and projects in this room without special permission. All worksurfaces must be kept clean and inviting to other students.

Offices:

DANM Technical Coordinator’s Office, DARC 203A
DANM Office, DARC 302 - includes student mailboxes

DANM Equipment Checkout Closet, DARC 203C

This space houses the DANM Checkout Equipment. The Checkout Closet is occasionally available for drop-in visits, but scheduling an appointment with the Technical Coordinator in advance is the preferred method for reserving and returning equipment.

DANM Seminar Room, DARC 206

The DANM graduate student seminar room is a class, meeting, lab and interactive space. DANM students may use this space as appropriate for these functions. It can be booked through the DANM Office.

Other campus facilities

Campus Computer Labs

There are two types of computer labs on campus.

  • UCSC Learning Technologies Services runs the larger computer labs on campus. These labs have a wide variety of software available and are used for instruction and general computer access. Some labs have extended hours. For more information on these IC labs visit their website http://ic.ucsc.edu/ services/computer labs.
  • Department specific labs, like the Arts Division labs, are discipline specific and not open to all students. See information below on available facilities.

Computer Policies

University policies defining acceptable computer and network use are published at http://its.ucsc.edu/security/policies. Additionally, please follow any posted policies in all computer labs.

Limited-Access Facilities

Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of this program the facilities available to students across all five Arts Division departments may also be available to you on a limited basis. The technical staff for each department schedule and monitor facilities and events in their area. To inquire about the availability of the following facilities, please contact the DANM Technical Coordinator.

Art Department

  • Wood Shop / Framing Shop
  • Metal Shop
  • The Foundry
  • Black & White Photography Dark Room
  • Print Studio (Lithography and relief printmaking)
  • The Cave (Digital printing in Baskin Visual Arts)
  • The Cellar (Digital printing in the DARC)

Film & Digital Media Department

  • Film and Digital Media Lab, 11 work stations with Final Cut software and DV decks
  • 6 editing rooms with DV decks
  • Film and Digital Media Transfer room
  • Studio B, a Film/Video production room with lift, green screen and lighting equipment

History of Art & Visual Culture Department

  • Slide and transparency scanning room

Music Department

  • 6 Electronic Music Studios
  • Rehearsal Rooms
  • A pool of musicians
  • Recording services with a professional engineer
  • Practice rooms (with large instrument access)
  • Recital Hall

Theater Arts Department

  • Scene Shop (wood and metal)
  • Costume Shop
  • 4 rehearsal rooms
  • 4 stages